Warbird Information Exchange

Bravo Mike Luther and team!!!!!!

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Rauhbatz
Commemorative Air Force
CAF Ohio Wing/Airbase Georgia Member
PT-19/26, T-34 CAF Pilot


Favorite quote from Wind, Sand & Stars - A. St. Exupuery "friends are like trees...when they are gone we miss their shade"

Well with my first Thunder in the books (the “long” trip from CA for an airshow), I cant say enough good things about this show. One of the BEST airshow weekends I’ve ever had!!!

A few highlights, Friday arrivals on Tyler Road were INCREDIBLE. So awesome and definitely has to be a part of every Thunder trip for me now. I was also able to get onto the ramp Friday night for some of the first shots of all 11 Corsairs, Facebook took a great loving to my post and I was really happy to be able to give everyone those photos before the weekend really started. Also took a Huey ride on Friday evening, another one of the highlights...

The show was VERY enjoyable. A great variety of stuff flying, and let me just say that I didn’t expect Thunder to have a very close to the crowd show-line, but I stand corrected. I took amazing videos with an iPhone just because of how close they had them flying. The Viper demo had some passes basically over the crowd with full burner and that is FUN stuff!!!

I will say that Sunday was a little slower than Saturday. The stubbed CC-130 demo, no CH-146 demo that they had planned, the Viper delay, etc. but I did like the Corsair segment more even though Marines Dream dipped home earlier in the day.

I’ll finish it with a few other words and “complaints” I guess although there isn’t much I feel like I can complain about. I say that because I was lucky enough to talk to Mike Luther for a good chunk of today’s intermission and I learned a TON about putting this show together. They did an outstanding job with 11 Corsairs showing up and flying together, that’s all I can really say. I also want to defend the intermission because they had a reason for it and they shouldn’t take the heat for it. It’s said that the “general public” complained that a “5 hour show” was too long and they needed a gap. The intermission then gave people time to go get food, or for new people to show up to be there for all of part 2. It sounded like Mike might be on board with a 1 hour break in the future because 2 hours was definitely too long.

My final problem that I have (that might just be a “me” thing) I HATED being kicked off the field by police a few minutes after the show. I want to watch departures like I do at every airshow on Sunday and it would’ve been cool to stay there a few hours after and just enjoy what was left of the show, especially since the military departures segment was pretty sad when the Growlers didn’t come around for any passes. That military departure segment was supposed to be a good part of the show since it would alleviate stress off everyone wanting to leave at one time when the show was over, and give time for some passes since there was no rush to get them out of the airspace. Really sucks that didn’t pan out as planned.

I didn’t know if this would be my first and last Thunder, but it’s already agreed upon that I’ll be back to Thunder every year!

And I will say get ready for some really awesome themes on the horizon!!! The gang has some pretty special ideas and I can’t wait to see what’s picked the next few years.

Thanks Mike for the great chat today, and thanks to all of the Thunder crew for making my first experience this awesome. For anyone in the future that talks down on the warbirds section of Thunder, just know that there is SOOOO much that goes into a show like this, and it’s far from as simple as writing a check and having a warbird show up. I have the utmost confidence that Mike wanted all 30+ airworthy Corsairs at Thunder this year and would’ve been fine absolutely destroying the warbird budget if it came down to it (sarcastic but pretty close to the truth). That’s quite the way to run a show and I love it.

Until Thunder 2020, thanks again everyone!!!

From my observation, I think the prime reason for the outlandish intermission was to give the aircraft giving paying rides, including B-17, B-25, 2 choppers and more, a good block of time to get their pa$$enger$ up as quickly as possible. [Only once did I notice the B-17 fly the show line, all other times she departed and arrived on runway 9, out of sight and out of mind] I have never been to an airshow where I actually laid down and went to sleep, and hope I never do again. Although I haven't been inside an airshow [not only Ypsi] for years for a whole slew of reasons which we don't need to get into, I have always bought a ticket anyhow as my way of supporting the show. If this becomes the norm, I won't buy a ticket anymore. Yeah yeah, they'll survive without me, but if 100's or 1,000's start voting with their wallets as well, then they'll be forced to take notice. Everyone that was around me was saying WTF is going on here, coming by me because I had a scanner blaring.

On the + side, goes without saying that they did a stellar job of attracting Corsairs and Mustangs at least, and the disappointing cancellations were obviously out of their control. I really think they ought to pay attention to pacing the show, no something does not have to be flying every minute ,, But the airboss actually handed control of traffic back over to the tower after only 1.5 hours of lackluster flying, and thereafter there was nothing, nadda, 0 for over 2 full hours except ride aircraft and civilians. I have never, ever seen that happen and was dumbfounded when it did.

Nothing military took off after the show [save for the Selfridge Chinook] unless they departed after 7, was hoping to see at least some of the 16's depart. Everything looked like they were bedding down for the night, and there were some pretty intense storms in the vicinity for a while, one of which I drove through for almost half an hour.

Unpopular opinion here, but I completely disagree with the negative comments about the intermission. The show advertised this break on its schedule – for the second year in a row. There was no secret that this was going to happen. If all you did was sit in your chair for two hours or you didn't look at the schedule I'm sorry, but that's on you. There was plenty else to do. You don't have to like the break, but it shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone.

There were four hours of scheduled flying between the two segments. That's typical for Thunder and most airshows – and actually much better than they've done in recent years. During the 2017 show, there was maybe an hour and a half of flying before the Tbirds, and the weather wreaked havoc last year. I'm miffed as to where the idea that this show was shorter is coming from.

I've been pretty critical of TOM the last two years. I can't find any reason to be this year, but that's just me.

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Matt

Have to agree with KzooKid. Last year's show was...I'll just say "less than stellar". This year I felt it was much, much better. I also personally liked the intermission, even at two hours. It gave me plenty of time to wander around the ramp and check out the static aircraft...hit the restroom...grab a bite to eat, etc. Especially helpful with the wife and our two kids in tow. Still not a huge fan of the ground battle...but it is what it is. At least they worked some fly-overs into it.

You could definitely tell it was a non-Thunderbirds/Blue Angels year though...crowds were nowhere near what they were last year. Which, from my point of view is great but I'm sure it hit YAM's bottom-line which sucks for them.

So we had a few mustangs and corsairs fly around, a acrobat act, then a few lame passes from 2 F-15's, then boom, a 2 hour break after it seemed the show had hardly started. Then we had the Viper demo and heritage, which granted was the highlight of the show and very good, then a group of corsairs 11 strong doing a few passes, which also was very good. Thats it, thanks for coming and see you next year ! I am ever more convinced that the "intermission" was conceived and designed to [obviously] keep flying to a minimum, and keep rides to paying customers to a maximum.

If they can pull it off and keep bringing in the crowds without a large drop in attendance, then more power to them. As stated, the 2 hour stand-down was even listed on the schedule.

This is for the photographers that were there on Friday. Looking at my pictures, the panel on the F16 disappeared between 1:42 and 1:43 at Friday's practice during it's solo routine. Looks like it was during a high speed turn over the airport. Did anyone get a shot of it leaving the plane?

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May all your bent wings be F2G Corsairs!

Depends on your perspective, I guess. From my standpoint, I saw a gathering of Corsairs on a scale that hasn't happened in at least 25 years and they even put up nine Mustangs during the show, which is only being equaled by two other shows I'm aware of this year (Oshkosh and Chino). If that's not good enough for some people ... it is what it is, I guess.

Since I'm sure everyone is tired of reading my opinions, here are some pics. I'll leave extensive aerial photos for someone else – that's not my forte.



IMG_4905 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_4961 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_4963 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_4966 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_4969 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_4991 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

Loved the homage to history on the tail art of this C-130.

IMG_5086 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5127 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5140 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5144 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5152 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5154 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5164 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5167 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5184 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5193 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

IMG_5197 by https://www.flickr.com/photos/124970884@N02/, on Flickr

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Matt

No argument there! I definitely got my money's worth and a two hour intermission won't be a factor in my decision to go to future shows.

My daughter (8 years old) was dragging a bit yesterday after having her out all day Saturday (she was already up when I got up at 6:30, we were on the airport grounds by 8 and left at 5), so I spent a bunch of the intermission Sunday under the tail of the C-130 watching the band play while she ate a frozen lemonade in the shade. My phone said we walked more than six miles each day while baking in the sun, I asked her on the way out of the gate yesterday and she's already excited to go back next year.

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Nope!!! not tired at all. Thx for your respect, admiration, appreciation (and photos) for an event that is one of the jewels of Warbird airshow events. Anyone who thinks putting together an event even remotely close to what these folks do each year simply has no clue as to the effort it actually takes. ... Bravo!!! again.

Sure looks like it was quite something to see that many Corsairs in the air at once. Dad would have had a nice grin seeing this.

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Zero Surprise!!...

I guess if he got a big enough offer for it. That isn't going for less than $12 Million i bet. Did the magazine come out before Sun and Fun?

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Mr Painter | Painting Services | Exterior Painting Services

I'm going to be going with family during the afternoon and won't have time to be in the photo pit all day.

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Mr Painter | Painting Services | Exterior Painting Services

Awesome that your daughter enjoyed it! That's really cool. My Dad started taking me to airshows when I was a little younger than that and we still go to a few together every year. Hopefully this is something that you'll always be able to do together.

Looking forward to seeing more photos if anyone has them!

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Matt

Here is a nice video of the corsairs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9zPKQilC-s

I've never seen German troops attacking a Corsair base before.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
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I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.